Chapter Text
Lavellan liked her tea black as night, sometimes with a dip of honey to smoothen the edge. If in Skyhold in the morning she liked to be at Varric’s place by the fire. But she would not get there the classical way, through the door to her bedroom, crossing the entire hall; she would rather climb down from her balcony by a fortunate rank enjoying the morning thrill and get in through the huge doorway that was most of the time open.
Varric respected her need to be with people in the morning but not addressed to, gathering her wits for the day. Chuckling, he once claimed that she reminded him of another elf, back in Kirkwall, who had the same manners in the morning but his mood would not much improve through the day. He kept a small kettle of water for her and all she had to do was put it in the fire and adding the leaves.
Before Lavellan did not emptied her cup at least half, the entire answers from her would be if verbally at all grunts and she claimed to have no active memory from the words spoken to her. After this half cup of bitter, stimulating morning glory, she was the Inquisitor always ready for action and reality, but prior to that? Well let us not ponder on this.
Josephine was after a fateful morning, mindful to leave notes at her side with urgent morning appointments.
This special morning was different; first there was no honey in sight and second she came aware of Sera hiding by the fire giggling with glee.
Varric had watched her preparations and inquired:”So… what’s in the bucket and who’s the target?”
“Mmmmph... hehe… Red Jenny’s Secret Recipe. Two parts honey or jelly or both on one part water. Make it in a bucket, stir it until the texture is right, and place it on a door and BAM! Stickiness and you are the insects favourite for at least three days. Best would be baldy, maybe he has another outfit for Vivienne to make fun of and his head could go wit h some extra shine.”
A clattering of wood on stone was heard followed by a:”Nice try, Sera!” and the second door to the hall opened fully. The second bucket, unseen by Solas tipped over and emptied its contain on his head and shoulders. Solas moved swiftly aside, not to get knocked out by the bucket but the damage was done. The sticky fluid was all over him and creeping down.
“Let it shine Baldy! You started it!!”, laughing she ran off.
Stifling his laughter Varric asked:”Do we wanna know, Chuckles?” Closing his eyes with a grimace Solas mouthed a silent “No.” and walked briskly to the bathhouse mumbling curses.
Sipping silently her tea and watching the scenario she could not help but think:”Maybe a lick of honey off his ears to sweeten my tea?” It was tempting to just follow him to the bathhouse, helping him shed his clothes.
But considerations and the note by her side told her not to pursue. Those honeyed images she saved for later.
“It’s going to be one of these days. “, she thought and downed half the cup with a little grimace. Josephine moved into her view.
“Inquisitor, if I may? We should meet with the other at the War table; there are some matters to discuss.”
Nodding Lavellan stood up and followed Josephine.
oOo
Around midday Lavellan could finally leave the War room and she went straight to a silent corner on the battlements. A brisk north wind blew in her face and she closed her eyes enjoying this little moment to breathe.
She understood the need and the urgency and she wanted to help but there was seemingly no end. From time to time all she wanted was to grab her staff, her tea and some books to make off into the woods. She felt split in half. One side in her craved and yearned for the simpler live with her clan, hunting for books as well as for food. The simple understanding if she vanished for an amount of time she was coming back with books, food and oddities.
Being a merchant’s daughter showed even through her magic. Keeper Deshanna did not approve of her lonesome needs but gave her every once and a while a few weeks to be to herself.
The other side in her was happy to experience new things, even painful things. Her insatiable curiosity was being fed; new people, new stories and new situations. Also new decisions with no turning back as Adamant showed. As fascinated she was with the fade it still rankled her that she could not save both and had to let Stroud die. She kept the Wardens by her side against protests from various sides but if the Blight should come back at least they were nearby.
Or so she thought.
“I knew I would find you here. I think I have a very interesting thing to keep your mind occupied. I theorized that if you cast a rift with your mark around the amulet and concentrate on a specific moment in time say the present, we may glimpse some images from the enemy. Seconds, minutes it is difficult to be exact but it’s safe enough and I’d say worth a try. Dagna looked over it too, she was thrilled.” Dorian moved at her side smiling, the amulet in his hands.
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
“Tsk, tsk… So pessimistic… worst case scenario: we destroy the amulet, maybe see some sounds or taste colours.”
“Hmmm.” She pondered, “Seeing sounds may prove useful, maybe Josephine’s toes are less likely to get blue.”
“Dancing lessons?” Dorian asked impishly.
“Oh yeah. With shoes I suspect. But before I am going to bruise Josephine’s toes, I have to eat lunch with Vivienne. Orlesian style.”
“Taming the wild Dalish Inquisitor?”
“Clearly I am not in the woods anymore. Let us see what happens. It may prove useful or just sweeten my day. I could use that.”
“Wallowing are we? How much tea did you have?”
“Shush… Not enough it seems, I forgot to fill my tea pouch. We could do it right here? No people around and should something happen we can throw it.”
Dorian huffed and placed the amulet in a safe distance on the brink of the battlement. “Where is your faith in my calculations? This place is as good as any. As I said try to aim the rift that the amulet is in its center and concentrate on today, so we may see some glimpses we can relate to.”
Lavellan did as she was told and nothing happened at first. Her hand began to vibrate from the inside and green light shone brighter and brighter. A very low humming came from the amulet before the rift sucked it in and vanished as was the light pouring from her hand.
On her knees she held her hand and groaned. Dorian squatted besides her taking her right arm. “Are you alright?”
“I guess... my hand feels like I had never had a hand before... I can feel anything, every single ray of sun. And you?” Turning her left hand in the sun she looked in Dorian’s laughing eyes.
“Lucky you. I feel no difference. Did you notice this hum? And the amulet is gone.”
Standing up they moved to the place she casted the rift. Nothing was amiss. The soldiers trained and shouted, people were laughing just another perfectly normal day within a military organisation restoring order in the world.
“Hmm... Yes, I heard it and felt it the same time. Strange...This means we can’t try it again. This feel in my hand is rather nice.”
“Ah well... It is always a pleasure to be of service, Inquisitor. At least I could sweeten your lessons.”
“Fenedhis! I should run! Vivienne’s eyebrow will vanish behind her head to show me the rudeness of my lateness.”
“A sight you shouldn’t miss. Meet me later in the tavern.”
Waving she took off to Madame Vivienne’s quarters.
oOo
“Well, well Inquisitor. I think if we try one more time, with a little less fury we might be able to stop for the evening.” Even placing a small cup on the table, Vivienne oozed dignified grace.
“My toes beg to differ, Madame de Fer. And the Inquisitor has earned her rest as well I would say.”
Smiling relieved and thanking them she took as fast as etiquette allowed it, off. In the garden she sat on a bench and touched her left hand.
The clenching in her arm got stronger as the afternoon passed on. It was not hurtful but it was unsettling in its strangeness, like touching unknown texture and your whole body reacts to it.
The names of the various nobles she could meet in Halamshiral were easy to learn with help of Josephine’s accurate but funny descriptions. Using the right cutlery for the various dishes and dancing were another matter entirely.
Sighing exhausted she closed her eyes.
“Just a short nap...”
oOo
“So... what’s in the bucket and who’s the target?”
“Mmmmph... hehe... Red Jenny’s Secret Recipe. . Two parts honey or jelly or both on one part water. Make it in a bucket, stir it until the texture is right, and place it on a door and BAM! Stickiness and you are the insects favourite for at least three days. Best would be baldy, maybe he has another outfit for Vivienne to make fun of and his head could go with some extra shine.”
Lavellan heard this exchange and looked perplex.
“Didn’t I hear this in the morning? I tried to take a short nap in the garden… How did I get here?! Why is there tea in my hand? There was barely enough for one cup this morning…”
Her lines of thoughts were broken by a clattering of wood on stone and Seras voice giggling:”Let it shine Baldy! You started it.”
“Huh?! What is happening?”